The DRA is a voluntary organisation which exists under the mantle of the South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT). It has been in existence for many years and has an interest in everything relating to the River Duddon. Since covid restrictions were lifted in 2020, the organisation has become much more active. More volunteers have been recruited over the past 5 years and many more activities are now undertaken.
In the past year, some of our volunteers who have been appropriately trained have undertaken several Riverfly Surveys. This involves a specific methodology to count invertebrate numbers at designated sites on the river. We look for the larvae of Stoneflies, Caddisflies, Freshwater shrimp and 4 species of Upwing Flies, including Mayflies and Olives. These are the vital base of the river food chain upon which fish and other water life depend.
Electrofishing Surveys have been undertaken in many of the little tributaries feeding into the main river. The Environment Agency also perform these surveys on the main river. This involves using a special unit which passes an electric current through the water. This stuns the small fish allowing them to be caught in a line of hand nets downstream of the unit. All fish caught are transferred temporarily to a large bucket of water. After 50 metres of stream has been sampled, all the fish caught are identified, counted, measured and carefully returned to the stretch of water they were caught in. Annual comparison of these counts gives us information on young fish stock levels. The river has good stocks of Trout, Eel, Salmon, Minnow & Stickleback. We occasionally find Lamprey and Leech.
Mink Monitoring has begun this year. We deploy 6 Mink rafts fitted with clay pads to pick up mink footprints. So far, there have just been 2 sets of prints identified. When this occurs the plan is to replace the clay pad with a live catch trap. Mink are a non-native invasive species which has decimated the Water Vole population across the country. In recent years there has been a growing movement to control mink numbers through coordinated efforts over large areas of river catchments. When successful, this may lead to reintroduction of water voles to an area. In the longer term we hope this may happen in the Duddon Valley. Please report any sightings of mink on this website or directly to duddonriverassociation@gmail.com
The biggest project the DRA has been involved in is controlling the non-native invasive Himalayan Balsam plant. Over the past 5 years we have recruited more volunteers to help deal with this problem plant in more areas of the Duddon Catchment. In 2025 volunteers put in a staggering 329 hours of work between May and September pulling out over 238,000 HB plants. Each infested area requires about 4 consecutive years of total control to eliminate it. There is more detail about HB on the website Invasive Species section. Work parties are arranged via our Whats App group throughout the summer months. Sessions last for approx 2 hours and are a good physical workout and social get together. Again, contact us via this website or e mail duddonriverassociation@gmail.com Another invasive species we contend with is Skunk Cabbage. This is a bit more labour intensive as the roots are embedded deep in the gravel bed of the riverbank and must be completely dug out.
Tree Planting is another part of DRA activities. Riparian strips alongside streams are planted up with native trees such as Hawthorn, Alder, Oak, Birch, Blackthorn, Hazel, Crab Apple, Wid Cherry and Scots Pine.
Leaky Dams are created to slow the flow of water in streams and small waterways during heavy rain storms.
Fish Refuges are built using tree trunks and branches at suitable sites on tributaries of the Duddon. These shelter small fish from predators like herons, cormorants, kingfishers, otters and mink, which will in the long term increase fish stocks on the river.
The DRA is part of a group called the Duddon Catchment Partnership (DCP). The lead member of this is South Cumbria Rivers Trust. The other partners are the South Lakes Red Squirrel Group and Sustainable Duddon.
For more information on the DCP see the separate section of this website.
Written by Rick Browne
Date – Dec 2025
